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New Life daily devotion - Dec. 21, 2010

2010Dec 21

COMMENTS

Close the Gate

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.Ephesians 4:32

My friend grew up on a farm, and she once told me that her sole responsibility was to close the gate behind her. That way the livestock couldn't backtrack into a field of alfalfa. All she had to do was close the gate behind her.

Back then she thought gate closing was boring work—just a whole lot of waiting, then something happened. She discovered that while gate closing isn't prestigious or exciting, it's vitally important.

On the path to wellness and wholeness, there are many gates to close. Closing the gate means not leaving loose ends hanging.

Are there people with whom you have loose ends? Do you need to return something you "borrowed?" Is there restitution or an overdue apology that might renew a relationship?

My friend's mom used to tell her, "Close the gates behind you." Most often she was talking about more than the field gate—she was talking about all the gates of life. What gates do you need to close?